This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
On May 9, 2020, Tanzania's Ministry of Defence and National Service budget increased from Tsh1.854 trillion ($810 million) in 2019/20 to Tsh2.141 trillion ($925 million) for the 2020/21 financial year.
Presenting the budget estimates, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jenista Mhagama requested parliament to approve next year's budget, citing priorities for recurrent expenditure and development projects.
According to the budget, recurrent expenditure will increase from last year's Tsh1.726 trillion ($748 million), and funding for development projects will increase from Tsh128 billion ($55.5 million).
The army will be provided with modern equipment, training, and infrastructure, communication gadgets, and domestic resources such as welfare and health services and housing.
Meanwhile, the House approved the budget for the Ministry of Works to the tune of Tsh4.9 trillion ($2.1 billion), with Tsh2.1 trillion ($950 million) allocated to the standard gauge railway project, equivalent to 48.1 per cent of the ministry's total development budget.
Minister for Works, Transport and Communication Isack Kamwelwe stated that the allocated amount is to ensure the completion of the first phase of the SGR project within the stipulated time frame.
